LiFi-X The fastest, smallest and most

secure LiFi system

LiFi-X The fastest, smallest and most secure LiFi system

The LiFi-X is the evolution of the worlds first LiFi system, the Li-Flame. The system offers
partners the ability to deploy a fully networked LiFi solution. Unlike existing VLC products, the
LiFi-X supports multiple access, roaming, complete mobility and ease of use providing a level
of user experience that is comparable and more secure than existing wireless technologies such
as Wi-Fi.

The LiFi-X delivers high data densities and eliminates unwanted external network intrusion. In
addition, the merger of illumination with wireless communications provides a measurable
reduction in both infrastructure complexity and energy consumption. LiFi-X delivers:

Full duplex communication with a 40Mbps downlink and 40Mbps uplink;

Full mobility (portable, USB-powered station)

Multiple users per LiFi Access Point, supported through multiple access
Secure wireless communications constrained by walls, eliminating the risk of signal
leakage to external eavesdroppers
Safe wireless communication in environments where radio frequencies are not suitable
 Flexible deployments

Extensive range of wireless communication applications including and beyond existing

Wi-Fi
A cost-effective delivery of light and data via a single infrastructure

LiFi-X Access Point (AP)

Support for Power over Ethernet (PoE) or Power Line Communications (PLC)

Simple installation
Connect to a wide range of LED light fixture to form an atto-cell
Multiple access
Handover control enables seamless switching between APs

LiFi-X Station (STA)

USB 2.0 powered

Supports handover, allowing user to move maintain their wireless session

The LiFi-X was publicly demonstrated at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on 22 25

February 2016 and hosted by the Scottish Development International.

What is LiFi?

LiFi is high-speed, bidirectional, networked and mobile wireless communications using light (as
opposed to traditional radio frequencies). The term was coined by Prof. Harald Haas and is
recognized by the IEEE standardization committee for Optical Wireless Communications.
With LiFi technology, data travels in the visible light spectrum through LEDs. This makes it
possible to provide wireless internet access at speeds of over 100 Gbps, although this is still in
the Lab.

Whats the difference between Visible Light Communication (VLC) and LiFi?

VLC is a the overall concept in that includes unidirectional and low data speed transfer of data,
unlike LiFi, VLC does not typically provide wireless Internet access. One could argue that even
smoke signals are technically VLC. This is how modern VLC works.
LiFi allows users to roam between lamps and still have connectivity as well as multiple users
connecting to the same light and still getting different data streams.

LiFi is different from VLC in:

Roaming allows users to move freely between lights and maintain a Skype Video Call.
Multiple Access a single light can let different people browse the internet at the same time.

The Li-Flame is the worlds first true LiFi system. The public demonstration was at Mobile
World Congress in Barcelona in March 2015.

Benefits of LiFi

LiFi technology provides many benefits for users including speed, energy efficiency and
security.
 Speed

In our tests, LiFi has produced speed of over 100 Gbps (in a controlled environment). These
speeds can be achieved due to low interference (compared to radio frequencies), and high
bandwidth due to the visible light spectrum which is 10,000 times more than the RF spectrum
and allows for optimal users coverage no matter the number of users.

Security

WiFi signals penetrate walls and ceilings, LiFi signals can only be received in the area lit, yet
allows for roaming between lights. LiFi is confined to the illuminated area, providing a very
controllable environment. The signals cannot travel through walls and are fully secure
essentially eliminating the threat of data being hacked remotely. There is therefore no risk for
remote piracy through the LiFi system. This solution is of great interest to sensitive operations
such as R&D, defense, banks, security systems, etc.

Energy Efficiency

Energy consumption is minimised via the use of LED illumination, with the transmission of data
requiring negligible additional power.

Safety an alternative to radio waves, with potentially harmful effects

Visible light wavelengths are harmless to humans, even beneficial at specific wavelengths. LiFi
comes as an alternative to radio waves which is a key characteristic to sensitive environments
such as hospitals, medical centers, schools, some industrial installations

Data Density

The area covered by one Wi-Fi access point has 10s or 100s of lights. Each LiFi light can deliver
the same speed or greater than a Wi-Fi access point. Therefore, in the same area, LiFi can
provide 10x or 100x or 1000x greater wireless capacity. That is Mbps per squared meter.

Localization

The dense location of lights can be used for positioning and location based services (LBS) to
deliver robust positioning and reliable connectivity.

The LiFi Myths

1. LiFi is not 100x faster than WiFi. The latest WiFi standard (IEEE 802.11ad) or Wi-Gig supports
data rates of 7 Gbps. LiFi has never achieved 700 Gbps.
2. The type of light source (large LED light, smaller LED lights, laser LEDs, etc.) directly impact the
speed that can be achieved by a LiFi solution.
3. Laboratory experiments have achieved 100 Gbps with laser LEDs. This impressive result is over
10x faster than the fastest Wi-Gig.
 4. Internet speeds depend on the Internet Service Provider as much as your WiFi access point. LiFi
data rates will be limited by what is offered from the Internet Service Providers.

Approximate Data Rates achieved with different types of LED technologies.

Prof. Haas discusses How fast can LiFi be? in his new blog.